SICKENING
Forbes fury at UK Government as it refuses to commit to additional funding for vital medicine
In a letter to an MSP seen by the Sunday Mail, the Finance Secretary blamed the UK Government’s “reckless” and “unacceptable” attitude.
Senior medical leaders across the UK warned last week that no-deal disruption could lead to shortages of drugs, including those needed for Covid-19 testing, due to new border checks.
Forbes has now raised concerns about procurement in reply to a parliamentary question from Greens MSP Mark Ruskell.
She said: “Our understanding is that, to date, HM Treasury has not confirmed any additional funding to the Department of Health and Social Care for any costs relating to stockpi l ing for the end of the transition period.
“Therefore the current position is no Barnett consequentials for 2020-21 in respect of these activities.
“We are working with all UK administrations, NHS NSS National Procurement and other partners to ensure that all stock build activity is carried out in a way that maximises safety and minimises cost.
“However, our ability to stockpile medicines, medical dev ices and cl ini ca l consumables wi l l be dependent on the cooperation of pharmaceutical firms and manufacturers, who are likely to be experiencing stock shortages as a result of Covid-19.
“It is completely unacceptable that the question of ensuring essential supplies, and how this is to be paid for, should even arise, especially during a pandemic. This is a result of the UK Government’s reckless approach to Brexit.” The UK Government last month wrote to medicine suppliers warning them that a “reasonable worst- case scenario” for no-deal was “significant disruption” to trade across the English Channel for six months.
Much of the UK’s medicines come from the EU and ministers have urged suppliers to make sure at least six weeks of supplies are on “UK soil”.
The pharmaceutical industry has warned Covid disruption has meant some stockpiles meant for no-deal have already been used up.
Ruskell said: “The Westminster Government’s chaotic approach to exit ing the EU wi l l have d ire consequences for the people of Scotland.
“It’s unforgivable that the Tories are proceeding with their reckless plan at the height of a global pandemic.
“It’s inexcusable that Boris Johnson has not allocated a penny for the stockpiling of vital medicines when Scotland is to be dragged out of the EU.
“A failure to ensure adequate medical supplies are available will put lives at risk.
“Scotland doesn’t want Brexit, and as the Finance Secretary has made clear in her letter to me, the UK Government has not made the necessary resources available to mitigate the worst excesses of this calamitous isolationist policy.
“Dragging Scotland out of the EU against the will of its people was always appalling. For the Prime Minister to threaten to do it on a cliff edge in the middle of a pandemic is criminal.”
The Department of Health and Social Care said: “We are working with devolved administrations to help ensure the uninterrupted supply of medical products when the transition period ends.”